[wallah]

Late yesterday afternoon I noticed that I had a wedge shaped lumpy area on my left breast, extending out from the areola. I normally massage my breasts during b/f anyway, so I kept doing it in the hope that it would be cleared.

By last night the milk had backed up all the way to the edge of my breast, and it was starting to get painful.

Also noticed a milk blister. So I sterilised a needle, popped the blister (ouch btw), cleaned up the area and got DS to feed from it.

Ive been feeding DS from the affected breast at the start of every feed (roughly every 2-3 hrs), positioning him so that his chin is massaging the lumpy area. I also change positions 3/4 times during a feed and express off the other breast to try and get rid of the lump. Ive tried warm compresses, standing in a shower..nothing has really shifted the lump.

Help - what else can I try to get rid of it before mastitis sets in?

[anon60]

You've tried everything I'd suggest. Call Karitane, Tresillian or even the post-natal ward where you had baby and ask to talk to someone.

[tinyweehen]

I went through blocked ducts too (a few times already with DS - urgh!)...fun, fun, fun. I keep getting milk blisters on both sides too, but only popped it once - didn't seem to help in my case.

The only other idea I have is a pressure massage. This was the only thing that worked for me in the end.

I googled and found references to doing it, but never anything on quite how to do it - so I just made it up. I basically just applied very firm pressure with the palm of my hand on the lumpy area, pressing from the outer area and slowly sliding towards the nipple. It hurts
But I heard of other women actually getting a tiny pea-like blob popping out of their nipple (I never had this), or feeling a click inside when some lump suddenly shifts or unblocks (I may have felt something, but it was so damn sore I wasn't that focused). I did the pressure massage after sitting in a fairly warm/hot bath to soften things up (something else I read by googling).

Anyway, it took about 3 days of hard work for me to get past it, but it may be possible for you.

Good luck, it is so unpleasant to go through

Oh, one other tip...
Apply liberal amounts of Lansinoh to the blister area. I found this really, really helps. If the blister area is infected, it just seems to help soothe it and prevent it getting worse while it has a chance to heal.

This post has been edited by tinyweehen: 20/02/2008, 12:22 PM

[melaine]

Try a deep warm bath, express a little then massage from the part of the lump closest to your nipple in for a while then gradually start your massage strokes further out.

The idea is you need to clear somewhere for the lump to go so if you start from the very outside there is nowhere for the lump to go if you know what i mean.

Alternate that with expressing. It will help if you use some gentle baby soap to let your hands slip a little rather than rub your skin too much.

Start with gentle strokes and gradually increase the pressure.

If that doesn't help you could call you local maternity hospital. Sometimes ultrasound can help break up a lump and the physio department might be able to help you.

[wallah]

OK..I tried the pressure massage yesterday and it must have shifted something, because Ive got milk coming out of that blister area again. Ive been getting DS to feed from that breast at the start of every feed, and during one feed yesterday there was about 10 seconds of absolute excruciating pain..and since then the lump seems to have softened somewhat. Im keeping up with the pressure massages and the pain isnt there anymore..so fingers crossed it is a good sign.

Thank you for your advice.

[katyjane]

One more thing you could try is warm compress right before a feed then cold face washer after for a few minutes then cold cabbage leaves in your bra for about 20mins after feeding. And, if it doesn't hurt too much, you could massage on that side when bubby is feeding. If it is too tricky maybe your partner could do it for you? He'll think he is a super-expert after about two feeds btw.

There is just nothing very glamourous about being a mum is there?

This post has been edited by katyjane: 21/02/2008, 07:05 PM

[happilou]

Hi, hope u're feeling better today. If things don't get better... see ur GP. They will know whether it's just a blocked duct or mastitis!